Keeping your knives sharp is vital to get the most out of them (and your ingredients), for helping you develop your knife skills safely and making the time spent in your kitchen productive and rewarding. After all, if you own high end kitchen knives and you do not keep them sharp, you really are not benefiting from your investment into such a quality product. My specialised hand sharpening service ensures your knives are sharpened appropriately with expertise, care and attention to detail. Promising to provide the best performance and user experience possible, just as the manufacturer intended, and in many cases making an imrovement on the brand new knife! As a retired chef who always had a preference for Japanese kitchen knives, this really is my area of specialty!

All Japanese and custom kitchen knives will be hand sharpened on Japanese waterstones, at both a precise angle and up to a grit level appropriate for the type of knife and its intended use (generally 10-16 degrees and 2-12k grit) and stropped for a razor sharp finish.

Hand Sharpening Rates

Western style Japanese knives, which are mostly factory made from brands such as Global, Shun, Koi, Tsuki and Similar knives including those made outside of Japan from “Japanses steels” and generally not over 60HRC. The blades typically feature full flat grind geometry and although they can be thinned when required, it is not a part of the regular sharpening process. Sharpening of these knives by hand at the following rates:

light sharpening £1-£1.25 per inch

Reprofiling rod honed bevels and Removing Chipping £1.25-£1.75 per inch

Major damage repairs, Broken tips, Re-curve Repair and Thinning plus Sharpening £2-£2.50 per inch

Traditional style Japanese knives are mostly made by hand in Japan by passionate craftsmen from the highest quality materials, expertly heat treated for optimal edge retention capability (typically 60-65HRC) They come in many variations, most are sharpened from both sides and some from one side (single bevel or “chisel edged”) blades such as yanagiba and deba. Some have a 2 sided bevel but with left or right hand bias. What they most commonly share is a blade geometry with a half flat grind which is designed to be thinned on the primary bevel as a part of the regular sharpening process. This can either be taken to what is known as a zero grind with no secondary bevel, for absolute lazer performance, or finished with a secondary bevel which will be more damage resistant.

Light thinning and sharpening, removal of minor chipping or bevels created by rod honing £2-£3 per inch

Heavy thinning work and major chip/bevel removal and damage repairs £3-£4+ per inch

Custom made kitchen knives will cost depending on the same criteria as japanese knives

I also offer a cosmetic refurbishing service for pattern welded (damascus) and composite steel blades. All cosmetic damage sanded out and finished in one of several options including acid etching and polishing - Quotes on request.

Benefits of expert hand sharpening include avoiding excess material loss to preserve the longevity of your knives, maintaining the correct geometry of your blade so its performance doesnt drop after every sharpening (an effect known as wedging which is predominantly noticed when cutting hard vegetables such as carrots or potatoes). The refined and razor sharp finish will cut effortlessly and help quality ingredients to maintain their best possible flavours (according to Japanese culinary philosophy) by causing less damage to cells of the ingredients as it cuts. Carbon steel knives will also be lightly cleaned of patina and rust unless instructed otherwise. Thinning will also refresh the surface of a large portion of the blade, maintaining aesthetic appeal and the natural beauty of the materials.

Most items typically turned around within 24hr when drop off is pre-arranged, items dropped off without prior arrangement will be subject to longer turnaround during busy periods. Postal service provided with Royal Mail special delivery (insured). Sameday service available by appointment for up to 8 knives to be hand sharpened, depending on size and extent of work required.